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Lib Dems: Chancellor 'put cuts before child poverty'

The Liberal Democrats have accused Chancellor George Osborne of putting spending cuts before getting children out of poverty.

Chancellor George Osborne has been accused of putting spending cuts before child poverty. Credit: Martin Rickett/PA

A commitment to trial more effective anti-poverty targets "blocked" by the Chancellor would be included in its 2015 general election manifesto, the party said.

Gauging reductions in gaps in life chances and entrenched poverty could prove more effective than the present system which has "serious limitations" said Education Minister David Laws, who is chairing the party's manifesto group.

He added: "The Conservatives have been keen to point up the failings of Labour's child poverty measures but less keen to replace them with decent, effective and supportive measures."